Chapter 61: I will take back what is Mine
Inside the Beltran family residence, two young women seemed to have certain intimidating expressions that left the head of the family in awe.
- Well, won't you say anything?
- ... What do you want me to say? What happened is not very pleasant to remember. - Emily answered seriously.
- ... I see, then, you could at least tell me how you came to take refuge in Count Beltran's house.
- I only asked my uncle for some time to stay, but I plan to return home soon and recover my inheritance.
- I understand, but how are you supposed to do that? I don't think you can just go and say: Hello, I'm back, can I have my title and territory back? ... After all, the ones in charge are the Rufasto's and, even if they are distant relatives, that's exactly why they will stand up and refuse to give you the land that belonged to your father, even if your uncle will help you, it will be difficult and time consuming to negotiate.
- I am well aware of the rumors about them, I have already informed myself properly. However, as long as I am alive, they can neither take full control nor inherit the land to any of their descendants.
Seeming not to reach an understanding, Roger interjected.
- Your Majesty, Princess Lisbeth, as you may know, your father, King Theodore, decided to assign the charge of the marquisate to House Rufasto until Emily's whereabouts were found. However, I am aware that his majesty was advised by Viscount Sotomayor and Count Valladares.
These confessions surprised Emily not pleasantly.
- What do you mean? - questioned Lisbeth.
The atmosphere seemed to get darker and darker after that comment.
- You must know that ten years ago there was a certain quarrel between the Marquis Gutierrez and the Viscount Sotomayor due to the mismanagement of the resources provided by my older brother to the Rufasto family.
- Yes, but that was resolved eight years ago, wasn't it?
- Officially and in order to maintain peace between the territories, an agreement was reached; however, if you were to ask the aristocrats nearby, you would realize that the tension between the two sides remained perennial.
- ... On what grounds do you argue what you say?
- The Rufasto's continued to demand resources from the Marquisate to finance the construction of public works; however, my brother found that all their financing was to pay bribes and kickbacks for crimes committed by them; the Rufasto house had already realized this, but they still continued to ask for money, excusing themselves as family of ours. Now that they have part of the control of the marquisate, I ask you to review their financial statements and see how their government is doing.
- The Sotomayor house is in charge of reviewing and sending the reports to the royal family. - replied the princess not being convinced of her own words.
- I think she has already realized ... Viscount Sotomayor may be hiding several things from the Rufasto barony. I may find more things than we are assuming. - Roger affirmed.
A few seconds of silence followed in the conversation.
- Just as you mention, everything we have talked about are only assumptions, there is no proof. - said Lisbeth.
- If that were so, then why did you yourself mention that the Rufasto family would tarnish in not returning the marquisate to the legitimate heir?
- I... did not put it that way.
- Then what is stopping the only daughter of the late Marquis Gutierrez from recovering what is rightfully hers? - Roger commented with a threatening tone.
- That's enough, you seem to be being a bit insolent, Count Beltran. - spoke the Walter.
Having calmed down a bit, Roger apologized.
- I see his point, but what do you say, Emily? - asked the princess.
With great determination and will, the young woman answered.
- In case the Rufasto family has governed the citizens transparently and piously and has not embezzled the funds left by my father, I will reconsider reaching an agreement with them for their faithful support; however, in case I find oppression and misappropriation of resources, I will not hesitate to take away everything they own from my estate, even if it means making an enemy of the viscounty Sotomayor and the Rufasto barony, since they are my relatives.
That statement was not to be taken lightly, for Lisbeth had been aware of Emily's prudence and determination for some time now. In addition to this, the princess was also aware of certain irregularities in the financial statements of the marquisate; however, she did not have the time to pay attention and solve all the problems; therefore, she did not take it to heart.
Now an opportunity was coming her way as if it were a sign.
Between Lisbeth and Walter's sidelong glances, the young woman spoke.
- Well, I understand your position; it is reasonable and ethical, but what is your plan?
- As you have said, with my uncle's help it would not yet be feasible to review and reclaim the marquisate; however, if you, the princess, would lend me your help, I am sure it would be easier to do so.
- Do you want me to get directly involved with them? Won't the Rufasto's believe that they are being watched?
- Certainly that is inevitable, but I don't want them to know about my return yet. First of all, I would like an audit of the financial situation and a census of the citizens to analyze the levels of satisfaction of the people and relate it to public expenditures; for these I will need your personal intervention. - answered Emily.
- Do you wish to put three noble families in a contest against the future queen? - questioned Walter.
Emily remained silent, but her determination had not diminished one bit; it was as if she was certain of her hypothesis.
Seeing this, Lisbeth smiled.
- Fine, I will do it. - replied the princess firmly.
- My lady?!
- Silence, Walter. I have already made my decision... Only... when all this is over, you will owe me a great favor, Emily. Not only personally, but it will include the entire Marquisate Gutierrez.
- What do you mean?
- First of all, you will owe me total loyalty ... then, I will tell you the favor you will do me, but that will be later ... so, I guess this will be like an alliance, won't it?
- Yes...
- Well; leaving this matter aside, there is something else I would like to ask you... - commented Lisbeth.
- ¿?
- I would like to talk to that young man who became your sworn brother.
- No, I don't think I can. - Emily answered seriously.
- Why not? Is there something you want to hide?
- No, it's not that...
- Then what is the reason? - Lisbeth asked insistently.
- Well... he... he left about an hour ago... he told me he would be back in the afternoon at the latest.
- Oh... I see... What about your daughter, Count Beltran? I'd like to say hello to her.
- Oh, you mean Melissa ... well, she ... she also left about 10 minutes before I arrived. If you'd like to stay and wait for her.
- ... No, I'll retire for now. I appreciate your hospitality.
Leaving the Beltran mansion and being inside her car, Lisbeth gave a big sigh.
- It seems to have happened similar to what we thought, doesn't it? - commented Walter.
- Yes ... I guess ... ... ... Walter ... did you record everything?
- Of course I did. - replied the butler when just then a small gleam seemed to glisten from the ornament in the middle of his tie.
As the princess touched her beautiful hair until she reached her right ear, there seemed to be an intercom inside her ear that was hidden by her big hair. She seemed to press a button on that little device.
- Did you observe everything, Sofia? - were Lisbeth's words.
A somewhat broken voice, but trying to sound strong, answered.
- Yes, I did.
From a limousine belonging to the Duchy of Saragossa, a red-haired woman seemed to be wetting her skirt with tears streaming down her face.
Only one sentence was heard from that woman.
- Thank God ... you are well, Emily. - said Duchess Sophia as she covered her face with one of her hands in the presence of her servants who were with her inside the vehicle.
Walking through the streets and passing by the main avenues of the capital, a long-haired man seemed to enjoy the view as he headed to his unknown destination.
There were several people walking that hour, but, as if the young man had noticed someone, he sighed.
- And now... Why are you following me?
No one answered, the people around him looked with certain fascination as well as bewilderment at the appearance and words coming from that young man.
- Look at him... he is quite handsome. - said a woman passing by with a friend.
- Yes, but have you heard him yet? He's talking to himself.
- Who cares... maybe someone is stalking him and he noticed.
Continuing on his way, it seemed that the young man did not give any more thought to the matter and did not stop walking.
Pulling out of one of his pockets, Aren took out a small device: a smartphone of the current models. Opening one of the applications, he could see the contacts he had added: Emily, Glen, Melissa.
The young man pressed one of those names and the call began to be sent.
After a few seconds, a ringing tone was heard coming from a cell phone near him. The sound was coming from behind the waiting seats of a bus stop that was only about two meters away.
A woman sitting in those seats pulled out her phone and answered the call.
- Hello?
- Yeah, seriously, what are you doing? - Aren said into the call.
The woman in clothes that hid her appearance turned off her phone.
The students behind that supposed guide wore the same uniform. Some of the new entrants passing by looking for their groups had already noticed this peculiar situation.
- Who are they?
- Are they coming from another academy?
These and other questions were muttered by the new students, but the situation was a little more complicated to explain.
While the guide seemed to be introducing himself and explaining a few things, Liam muttered.
- So... What have you done to make them look at us like that?
- I haven't done anything... I don't even know them... - muttered Renato.
- Well, I think they hate us all equally. - commented Daniel.
- You see ... we are all guilty here. - said Renato.
- ... Whatever. - said Liam.
- Hey... are you listening to me? - asked the guide.
Everyone looking straight ahead was puzzled to see such a person talking.
- And you... Who was that? - Liam asked without malice.
Clicks coming from those uniformed students behind the guide were heard with great annoyance.
"... I think I stepped on a mine..." thought Liam.
You could see at the boy's side Renato's mocking face expressing that it was now Liam who was in his shoes.
Before starting a fight between the two, the disheveled man introduced himself again.
- I am Arnold Freicher, an instructor and the guide in charge of the R class, as we are out of time, I will explain the rest while we check the campus, okay? - said the man with a light and soft tone.
"Freicher? What? Is he German? ... Wait a second, is he an instructor? ... ... Where the fuck were you when we were having problems during the exam?!" thought Daniel, Liam and Renato unanimously.
Walking along the sidewalks having passed by a boardwalk, one could observe the distinguished monarchical structure of the buildings. A couple passing by these places seemed to be close to their destination.
- So... Why have we come all this way? - asked Melissa.
- We? ... You just followed me without permission ... again ... - answered Aren monotonously.
- Yes, yes... then why did you come to this place? Emily do you know that you went out?
- Yes... Did you also tell your parents?
- I left them a note. Otherwise, they would have asked me a lot of questions to prevent me from going out.
That letter literally said: Aren asked me to accompany you, I'm coming 😊.
Aren sighed.
- I was going to ask someone, since all buildings look the same, but since you're here I'll do it with you.
- Do me what, pervert! - Melissa said.
Aren's serious face made it clear that he was in no mood for jokes.
- S-Sorry... I thought men liked it when women acted like that.
Again Aren sighed.
After a few seconds of sharing information, the woman spoke.
- The ITT department ... What are you going to do there?
- ... I will look for a friend. - Aren answered, hesitating whether to speak or not.
- That answer ... I've heard it before ... and the result was not pleasant by the way. - commented Melissa incredulous at the answer.
A silence where the crossed looks of that couple lasted for a few seconds.
Now Melissa sighed.
- ... You know, every time I think about it, you seem as if you were someone who hides a lot of secrets; something like a kind of protagonist of a mystery or fantasy novel ...
Aren did not comment.
- Well, that's what's interesting about you. Anyway, you're in luck, two more blocks down the street and turning right is where you want to go.
- I see, thank you.
Aren and Melissa continued walking to that place; however, the young woman noticed something: it was the first time she received a thank you from that long-haired man.
"W-what is this? ... This feeling, how long has it been since I felt this? ... I thought that only with Eduardo it would be the last time I would be this way ... Yes, it has been a while and that's why I forgot ..."
It seemed that the heart of that maiden was melted by warm words of gratitude.
A smile broke out on her face.
"Yes ,,,, I just remembered it ... NEVER TRUST MEN! Those words I always heard from that scum's mouth ... I won't fall for that again! It doesn't matter if it was even an adonis who talks like that."
During the time it took her thoughts, Melissa realized that they were already in front of the Research, Innovation and Technology department.
In an unfamiliar residence set up in Zaragoza, three neat-looking people were gathered as if they were aristocrats. They were two men and a woman who were in an elegantly finished room.
- So they are all dead, eh? - said one of the men.
- Yes... but that doesn't matter anymore. Have you heard the rumor in the capital? - said the one woman.
- What are you talking about?
- You remember that Efrain gave us photographs and the whereabouts of that brat, Aren in that town, Tres Cantos.
- Yes, so? ... Now we have lost sight of him and, even worse, he is not our target. - replied the other man with an overbearing attitude.
- Well, Efrain and I have been doing our work and we discovered that he is staying at the Beltran home. - said the woman with a certain vanity.
- In the Beltran's house?! Why would he be there...? - said the man who seemed to understand the woman's words.
- Beltran? Where have I heard that name? ... Wait, isn't Count Beltran the uncle of that brat? - said the other man with some surprise.
- Exactly.
- So ... if that boy is living there, that means that ...
- There is something else ... it seems that Princess Lisbeth herself has gone to visit the count.
The two men were puzzled by that statement.
- Damn it! Why?!
- Well, let's get ready. Who shall we send? - said the woman, cutting off the man's anger.
One of them smiled.
- This must be done quickly and discreetly ... let's do it like the first time and send Renaud.
They all agreed.
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